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November 5 2024, 08:35 · Alex Sarwar

Sparta Prague vs Brest Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

Sparta Prague vs Brest Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Arguably the main surprise package across this season’s Champions League so far, unbeaten Brest travel to Sparta Prague with a view to making it ten points from a possible 12.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday November 6th 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 8 / US – CBS Sports

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

SPARTA PRAGUE PREVIEW: PROMISING BUT INCONSISTENT

Sparta Prague can take plenty of positives from their three league phase fixtures played so far, most notably the fact that they have one win under their belts already. They also recorded a hugely respectable 1-1 draw away to Stuttgart, although they were heavily beaten last time out by five goals to nil at the hands of Man City.

The hosts will have no doubt marked out this game as one which is very much winnable and three points would take them to seven overall, putting them in a very healthy position going into the half-way stage of the league phase. 

BREST PREVIEW: STILL IN THE AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION PLACES

The fact that Brest find themselves in fifth-place going into this round of Champions League matches is a testament as to how well Eric Roy’s side have adapted to the standard of competition and perhaps the lack of expectation is working in their favour as well, allowing them to play with freedom.

Most would’ve expected them to fall to defeat after going behind against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in their most recent league phase encounter. But this Brest side are built different. A magnificent strike from midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou tied the game and in the end, the Ligue 1 side were more than value for their point, putting them on seven overall after previous wins over Sturm Graz and RB Salzburg.

SPARTA PRAGUE TEAM NEWS: ABSENCE OF KEY WIDE PLAYERS A BIG BLOW

Sparta Prague will have cope without two crucial attacking midfield players in the form of Lukas Haraslin and Veljko Birmancevic, who are nursing groin and hamstring injuries respectively. When taking this into account, the hosts could opt for a strike partnership of Rrahmani and Olatunji.

PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Zeleny; Wiesner, Laci, Kairinen, Danek, Rynes; Rrahmani, Olatunji

UNAVAILABLE: Birmancevic (Injured), Haraslin (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Krasniqi (Injured), Sorensen (Illness)

BREST TEAM NEWS: VISITORS TO CHECK ON SIMA AHEAD OF CONTEST

Mama Balde is on standby for Brest in the event that Abdallah Sima fails to recover from the hamstring injury that has seen him miss his side’s last two Ligue 1 games. Jonathan Locko remains out.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Coulibaly, Haidara; Camara, Lees-Melou, Magnetti; Del Castillo, Ajorque, Sima

UNAVAILABLE: Locko (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Sima (Injured)

KEY STATS

  • Sparta Prague have lost their last six UEFA competition matches against French teams.
  • Sparta Prague have won only two of their previous 15 UEFA competition matches against French teams (D3 L10).
  • Sparta Prague have won four and drawn one of their last five UEFA competition group/league phase matches at home.
  • Sparta Prague have kept four clean sheets in their last five UEFA competition group/league phase matches at home.
  • Brest have scored in the first half in each of their previous three UEFA Champions League matches this season.
  • Brest have won their last two competitive away games.

SPARTA PRAGUE VS BREST PREDICTION

When you factor in the form of both Sparta Prague and Brest, the latter looks in a much better position to pick up a positive result in this game. But Sparta’s results at home in Europe this campaign have been excellent, beating the likes of Malmo and RB Salzburg, so they can’t be underestimated.

Brest though, are making a habit of finding ways to get something out of games at this level of football. They were ruthless away from home vs RB Salzburg, showing impressive cutting edge on the counter-attack and a similar showing will likely see them gain further success here. Utilise the double chance market and back Brest to gain at least a point in Prague, if not all three.

SPARTA PRAGUE VS BREST TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - DRAW/BREST

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